ATHENS

Pope Francis made a video call Wednesday night to the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, continuing a nightly ritual to stay connected with the community amid the ongoing conflict, Vatican News reported.

Pope Francis holds nightly video calls with Gaza’s Holy Family Parish, offering prayers and solidarity to over 600 Christians and Muslims seeking refuge in the church https://t.co/GshIrOVPP1 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/RntdnJC2R6

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The pontiff has called the parish every evening since Oct. 9, 2023, two days after the Israeli attacks on Gaza began, the agency said. The Holy Family Parish, located within its church and school, has become a refuge for more than 600 people, including Christians and Muslims.

During the call, Pope Francis spoke with Father Youssef, the parish priest, asking about their dinner. A video shared by the agency showed parishioners, including children, women, and men, gathering to greet the pope.

In one interaction, Pope greeted a local doctor saying "Salaamu Alaykum," (traditional Muslim greeting meaning peace be upon you) to which the doctor also responded in Arabic. The pontiff also waved and playfully interacted with the children in the background, the footage showed.

The Vatican described the pope’s daily calls as a way to express solidarity and offer hope to the Gaza community during a time of immense hardship.